章節 1803: -1783- Assess my worth?
Setagaya Ward, Tokyo
This is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, known as a convenient residential area with good living conditions, offering easy access to the city center. Located in the southwestern part of Tokyo, Setagaya is recognized as an affluent district.
It is well-connected to bustling areas like Shinjuku and Shibuya through rail lines such as the Odakyu Electric Railway, Keio Line, and Tokyu Toyoko Line. Among Tokyo's special wards, it is the second-largest in area and the most populous.
In the central part of Setagaya lies Miyasaka, which neighbors Sakurajosui and Akatsutsumi to the north, Gotokuji to the east, Sakura to the south, and Kyodo to the west. Geographically, the northern part is traversed by the Kitazawa River, while the southern part is crossed by the Karasuyama River. The central area is hilly, though steep slopes are rare.
The Yuuki family resides in Miyasaka, within Setagaya Ward, Tokyo.
Thus, Rozen took a train to reach this place and stepped off the platform.
As soon as he stepped out, Rozen was greeted by a captivating sight.
"Over here!"
Leaning against a pillar, Asuna was standing there, appearing somewhat bored as she rested her hands behind her back and kicked her heels idly. Initially staring at the ceiling absentmindedly, she soon noticed Rozen, her face lighting up with a smile. She raised her hand high and waved at him enthusiastically.
This scene naturally drew the attention of many onlookers.
Today, Asuna wasn't dressed in casual clothes. Instead, she was wearing an elegant and gorgeous kimono, carrying a fabric bag that complemented her outfit. Her chestnut-colored hair was styled in an intricate updo, making her look like a noble princess from a secluded manor, breathtakingly beautiful and heart-stirring.
Rozen could hear murmurs of admiration from those around him. Some even glanced at him with envy, clearly realizing that he was the one Asuna was waiting for. Their gazes were filled with jealousy.
However, Rozen ignored these onlookers and paid no mind to Asuna's dazzling appearance, which left everyone stunned.
This wasn't because Rozen was indifferent to Asuna's current beauty.
Rather, Rozen had noticed that Asuna's smile seemed somewhat forced, and her eyes carried a trace of fatigue.
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Rozen calmly approached and stood in front of her.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
He spoke these words, but his tone carried little emotion.
"No, it's fine," Asuna responded, clearly aware of Rozen's demeanor. The fatigue in her eyes deepened.
Seeing this, Rozen let out a faint, bitter smile.
"Alright." He gently patted Asuna's head and said, "I'm not blaming you, so don't feel guilty."
Hearing this, Asuna was momentarily stunned before letting out a soft laugh.
Just that one sentence told her that Rozen had already figured everything out.
"You already know, don't you?"
Asuna gave a bitter smile in response.
"Just a guess," Rozen said indifferently. "The idea of inviting me to your home for the New Year wasn't yours, was it? It must have been your family's demand, right?"
Indeed.
The reason Asuna hesitated to invite Rozen to spend the New Year at the Yuuki residence was because it was a request from her family.
It wasn't that Asuna didn't want to spend New Year's with Rozen.
Originally, the two had agreed that they would log in later and spend New Year's together in the forest cottage, celebrating with Yui and enjoying their time.
In other words, Asuna had planned to spend New Year's with Rozen in the game and hadn't considered inviting him to the Yuuki residence.
For Asuna, that small wooden cottage was the true home for the three of them. The Yuuki residence, in contrast, did not feel like home to her, and she had no intention of bringing Rozen there.
However, Asuna still extended the invitation, which made it obvious that it was her family's idea.
As for why her family made such a demand, it was actually quite simple.
"Your parents want to bring me to your family's home and have the elders assess my worth, don't they?"
Rozen's words were cutting.
This brings us to the dynamics of the Yuuki family.
Many people know Asuna as the daughter of a distinguished family, but her status as a highborn lady isn't just due to her parents.
The Yuuki family has been operating a currency exchange business in Kyoto for over 200 years. Even through the upheavals of the Meiji Restoration and wartime, they managed to survive and are now running a regional bank with branches across the Kansai area. They could easily be described as a regional powerhouse.
Asuna's father, Yuuki Shouzou, was able to develop RECT into a comprehensive electronics manufacturer largely thanks to substantial financial support from the family.
In other words, the current Yuuki family is just one branch of the larger one.
The main branch has produced countless high-ranking individuals in business and government over the years. The Yuuki family, in comparison, is just one part of this vast network, and not even the most prominent. Currently, the most powerful figure is said to be a key player in the national government, someone influential enough to have a say in policymaking meetings.
While the Yuuki doesn't dominate the nation, it undeniably holds a significant position.
If they mobilized against someone, few would be able to stand on equal footing with them, and even fewer could surpass them.
Naturally, such a large clan is bound to be quite complex.
Each member prioritizes their own interests, unwilling to jeopardize their position in unnecessary conflicts.
Thus, while the Yuuki clan wields considerable influence, it isn't particularly unified. They avoid direct confrontation with other significant entities and instead focus on maintaining their status as a powerful yet non-dominant force.
Given this context, they continue to grow but still gathers at their ancestral home for the New Year.
As Rozen was promised as Asuna's fiancé by Yuuki Shouzou, he was expected to accompany the family to their ancestral home and meet all the key members of the Yuuki clan.
This, of course, was no easy task.
Where there's a family, there's competition. While major disputes might not occur, there is bound to be rivalry and mutual scrutiny among the members.
Considering that some in the members already pitied Asuna for her two-year confinement in SAO, they likely believed she couldn't match the younger generation of the family anymore. If her fiancé turned out to be someone of low status, it would not only reflect poorly on her but also bring shame to the Yuuki family. The gossip and criticism would surely be relentless.
On the other hand, refusing to bring her fiancé to the ancestral home would be seen as an even greater disgrace. This was why Asuna's parents insisted she invite Rozen to spend New Year's with the family.
But this was exactly what Asuna wanted to avoid.
"…The people at home might not welcome you and could even do something excessive. I don't want to see you being dragged down because of me," Asuna sighed.
Her fatigued expression was undoubtedly a result of her concern and helplessness.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票